MidlandCare’s 24 for Life Helps Topekans Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

One in three American adults has prediabetes. If you have prediabetes, you are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, a serious disease. Many people with prediabetes who do not lose weight or do moderate physical activity can develop Type 2 diabetes within five years.

The good news is that you can prevent Type 2 diabetes. The 24 for Life lifestyle change program, offered by Midland Care, can help. 24 for Life is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is proven to prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes.

In 24 for Life, you will work in a group with a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress. You will learn to eat healthy, add physical activity to your life, stay motivated, and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes.

“If you have prediabetes, 24 for Life offers a real chance to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes by helping you adopt a healthier lifestyle,” said Donna Doel, assistant coordinator for the program. “Just enroll in the local program, which meets at locations throughout the area, and on a variety of days and times.”

There are already over 97 participants who have already signed up for or completed 24 for Life, and Midland Care is working to open new program sites and start new classes.

Once you enroll, your 24 for Life group will meet for a year — weekly for the first six months, then once or twice a month for the second six months to maintain your healthy lifestyle changes. Most participants enjoy the group support and find it makes lifestyle change easier.

“I have been participating in a 24 For Life group with a life-style coach since October and am thrilled with the changes I am experiencing…in my thought process about eating, about activity and exercise, and about weight,” said Nancy Harms, Topeka. “I have dear friends whose lives have been devastated by Type 2 Diabetes and I have seen the negative results when you don’t take a prediabetes situation seriously. I am so grateful for a program that is not diet or product-based, but built upon small changes, new thought, increased knowledge and shared commitment.”

The 24 for Life program is based on research that found people with prediabetes can cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in half by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight (about 10 to 14 pounds for a person weighing 200 pounds).

“Small changes make a big difference,” added Doel. “With a trained lifestyle coach as a guide, you can work with others who have prediabetes to make a change for life.”

Nancy Harms is very thankful for the difference the program has made in her own life. “My thanks to Midland Care and their life-style coaches who offer this program to individuals, groups and businesses in our community as part of a wellness approach to life!”

To learn more about 24 for Life and find a class near you, call Donna Doel at 785-250-5210, or go to MidlandCare.org/24forLife.